Safety cover for match books



Jan. 11, 1938. H. B. EASTMAN SAFETY COVER FOR MATCH BOOKS Filed Aug. 15, 1956 a ,5 M W fl 5 E N R O T T A Patented at. 1 1, 193s UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to safety covers for book-matches.

Match books usually include a closure flap and a retaining flap and generally are of two types. The most common form has a layer of striking material upon the exposed surface of the closure retaining flap. Another form, such as that shown in U. S. Patent 1,801,170, uses a closure flap the free end of which is tucked normally back of the retaining flap and has a constantly exposed striking surface located back from said end.

It is wellknown to those in the'habit of using match books that when either of the foregoing types of-books is carried in clothing which is saturated wi h perspiration, all portions of the striking surface frequently become damp and matches when drawn thereover will not ignite.

An object of the present invention is to so construct the book that, when the cover or closure flap is in closed position, the striking surface, which is located on the extreme free end portion of the closure flap and not back from said end, will be positioned behind and wholly. within the bounds defined by the edges of the retaining flap so that a large portion of the surface of the striking material thus will be protected from the action of moisture while the book is being carried in the pocket.

It is likewise well known to those who use match books of the i vpe shown in the patent mentioned, that when it is desired to strike a match, it has been necessary first to partly or entirely withdraw the end of the closure flap from position back. of the retaining flap in order that the striking material might be properly located for engagement by a match head. The average individual, after opening the book, places the closure flap on a finger for support and then draws the head of the match over the striking surface without shutting the closure even though warned not to do so. This practice is followed because it is easier and more convenient than to tuck the closure flap back of its retaining flap before striking a match on that portion of the striking surface exposed. As a result of this usual practice, flying sparks often ignite the matches remaining in the open book. The foregoing procedure is followed because the striking surface can be easily supported on a finger due to the fact that it is located entirely back from the free end of the closure flap.

An object of the present invention is to locate the striking material at the extreme end of the closure flap soothat the portionof the flap containing the striking material cannot easily be held and supported by a finger and it becomes more advisable for the user to reinsert the closure snap back of its retaining flap before striking" the 'match thereon in order to provide the necessary support or backing for the strikingsurface.

A still further object is to provide the retaining flap with an opening spaced inwardly from the edges of the flap and through which a portion of the striking material is exposed when the closure or covering flap is in position, the opening being of such proportions as to expose ample area on which thematch head can be drawn, the walls of the opening serving to limit the sliding movement of the match head on the striking surface, whereby said walls constitute a guard or shield for deflecting sparks away from the heads of the matches in the book and whereby the ignited match head is prevented from sliding over the edge of the book where it might accidentally ignite the other matches.

A still further object is to provide the retaining flap with an opening or slot through which only a portion of the striking surface is exposed whereby, should the book become moist, only that portion of the striking surface exposed through the slot would be affected and it would be possible, simply by shifting the end of the closure flap laterally or upwardly relative to the slot, to bring into position within the slot portions of the striking surface not previously exposed to moisture and which would be capable of functioning as intended.

A further object is to provide the retaining flap with an opening through which the striking surface is exposed so that, after this exposed portion becomes worn and without effect, it is possible to bring other portions of the striking surface into position-in the slot by shifting the end of the closure flap laterally or by moving it slightly longitudinally without withdrawing it, from under the retaining flap. This will bring an unused portion of the striking surface into position in the slot where it can be reached readily by the head of a match to be lighted. l

With these and other objects in view, this in vention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showingthe book or container in closed position.

Figure 3 is an edge view, partly in section, illustrating the book or container.

Figure 4 is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing the matches confined within the book or container.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the securing of the match stems in the book or container.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a group of matches the stems of which are stapled or otherwise secured in a book or container 2 consisting of a back 3. a closure flap 4 and a retaining flap I. Normally the closure flap 4 is inserted between the group of matches and the retaining flap and to remove a match the flap 4 is moved into an open position, as shown in Figure 1. Secured to the outer face and adjacent the free end of the flap 4 is a pad of striking material 8 for the matches. The retaining flap has a slot I 01' any desired shape to expose the pad 6 when the flap 4 is in closing podtion. with the striking pad secured to the flap 4 and the latter engaged by the retaining flap I a match may be struck by frictional contact with the pad 6 through the slot The match igniting from the frictional contact with the pad will be prevented from igniting the matches within the book or container. Also, the retaining iiap overlying the pad 8 when the book or container is closed will protect the pad 0 from perspiration.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A device of the class described including a length of material folded to provide a back, a retaining flap extending from one end of the back, a closure iiap extending from the other end of the back, matches secured between the back and the retaining flap and adapted to be partly enclosed by the closure flap, and a striking material extending throughout the width of the closure flap at one end thereof, said end and the striking material thereon, being normally positioned between the retaining iiap and the matches, there being an elongated slot in the retaining flap the walls of which are located inwardly from the edges of the retaining flap, a portion of the striking material being exposed through the slot for engagement by the head of a detached match and the remaining portion of the striking material being normally concealed by the retaining flap, the length of the slot being such as to expose suiiicient striking surface to enable the lighting of a match, the closure flap being shiftable laterally and longitudinally relative to the retaining flap for exposing in the slot portions of the striking material previously unexposed, the walls of the slot constituting abutments for limiting the striking movement of a match head on the exposed portion of the striking material thereby to hold the head, when sparking and ignited, away from the side edges of the book, and said walls of the slot furthermore constituting guards for intercepting sparks moving along the striking material during frictional contact of a match head with said material.

HAROLD B. EASTMAN. 

